By Mercy Chewe
Copperbelt based entrepreneur Peter Mulenga has declared that the business partnership between Lumwana Mine and Kalonga Logistics should be monitored to ensure that it doesn’t disadvantage local suppliers and contractors.
Some suppliers recently opposed Kalonga’s operation at Barrick Lumwana Mine arguing that it amounts to transfer pricing and monopoly, trends that disadvantage local suppliers.
But Mr. Mulenga said there was a need to give the Lumwana and Kalonga Logistics partnership a benefit of doubt.
He also highlighted the importance of the local content legal framework as championed by Commerce Minister Chipoka Mulenga.
“Will Kalonga Logistics and Lumwana walk the talk?The coming of Kalonga Logistics is timely; they will assist in putting into effect the Local Content Law, which Minister of commerce Trade and Industry Mr. Chipoka Mulenga has stated it will be enacted and introduced. Speaking at the North Western Chamber of Commerce Trade and Industry (NWCCI) Business Awards Giving Gala Dinner in the Solwezi District on March 20, 2023, Mr. Mulenga stated that contracts awarded to local contractors must be enhanced in value. We are really pleased with the Minister’s public outreach. We have, for once, witnessed a minister exerting great effort to increase public engagement in the wealth generation. I want to thank Honourable Chipoka Mulenga one more for standing up for SMEs,” Mr. Mulenga said.
He also praised the way Kalonga Logistics handled bad publicity.
“We are very pleased with how Kalonga Logistics handled all of the unfavourable news that they received over their collaboration with Lumwana. After speaking with Mr. Anthony Malenga, the Country Finance and Administration Manager and also site Chief Financial Officer at Lumwana, and Mr. Michael Hambidge, the General Manager of Kalonga Logistics, we feel that the model they have chosen is the ideal one for local suppliers, and they will assist in putting the local content policy into practice. However, if we become aware of injustices, we will combat them without hesitation or fear,” Mulenga continued.
He added that more Zambians should profit from these multinational mining firms.
“Our demand that Zambians share in the wealth created by the mineral industry was strongly supported by Michael and Anthony. If their model is accurate as suggested, we should expect to see improved small and medium-sized enterprises by 2024. The story of Kalonga Logistics was rewritten by Mr. Malenga, who advocated for an integrated strategy that included training local SMEs and transferring skills. He emphasised the need of bridging the knowledge and skill gaps while incorporating technology into the operations of local contractors and suppliers. Keep in mind that not everything that glitters is gold, so we’ll just have to wait and see,” Mr. Mulenga commented.
“We’ll be keeping a careful eye on this model. Because this is a public matter, duty bearers will be held accountable for their activities, hence Kalonga Logistics must be held accountable for whatever they do.With the prospect of local capacity building for local contractors and suppliers, I firmly believe that Kalonga Logistics’ arrival will boost the participation of local suppliers at Lumwana,” he concluded.
